Patient Privacy Partition Canopy

ABSTRACT

A patient privacy canopy formed in accordance with the present invention includes a frame and an opaque material covering the frame to form a canopy. The canopy includes an open bottom and at least one end opening to allow a portion of a patient to extend therefrom. The canopy is adapted to be positioned over an upper portion of a patent lying down on a movable bed or seated in a wheelchair. The patient privacy canopy preferably has a bottom that is substantially rectangular and sides that are arcuate. To accommodate a patient, the end opening is substantially semi-circular. So that the canopy can be packaged in a small, sealed plastic container, the frame is collapsible and the material covering the frame is foldable.

BACKGROUND

The invention relates to the privacy of a patient while in transport in and around a hospital, medical building or surgery center setting, and more particularly, to a privacy partition canopy attachable to a patient transport device such as a gurney, hospital bed or wheelchair.

The patient privacy partition will provide anonymity to the patient and shield their view from the general public while in transport. Under Health Insurance Privacy Act (HIPA), patient privacy is of utmost concern in hospitals across the United States of America.

Each day thousands of critically ill patients and patients that are undergoing medical procedures are transported from their hospital room to radiology suites, operating rooms, endoscopy suites, cardiac care labs and rehabilitation units. Many patients, often sick, are paraded down hallways and elevators to a destination that will hopefully ameliorate their condition. Many patients can be seen diverting their eyes from the public. These patients are often fearful and self-conscious. Often, they are in depressed states and a worrisome state of mind. The last thing they want is to be paraded and looked at. The critically ill brain patient that resides in neurosurgical critical care units, is transported daily to the CT scanner. These patients, often the most clinically critical, have apparatus such as ventilators, intra-cranial monitors protruding from their skull and medical tubing going everywhere. These patients need not only privacy, but a device that will protect them from infection as well.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a partition in the form of a canopy which can provide privacy to a patient being transported by a wheelchair or gurney.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a patient privacy partition which is a sterile, single-use canopy which is collapsible and easily deployed for use. It is envisioned that as many as 144 individual canopy units, each in a sterile, sealed, plastic package, may be packaged in a master pack having the dimensions of 36×24×12 inches.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a patient privacy partition that can shield a patient from dust, infectious diseases and other airborne particles.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a patient privacy partition that is made from a ventilated material similar to a surgeon's mask and/or includes vents therein.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a patient patient privacy partition which may be folded and provided for use in a relatively small, flat package. Upon opening the package, the partition opens up for deployment over the patient.

It is an object of the invention to provide a patient privacy partition which can be deployed on a gurney or on a wheelchair.

A patient privacy canopy formed in accordance with the present invention includes a frame, an opaque material covering the frame to form a canopy, the canopy including an open bottom and at least one end opening to allow a portion of a patient to extend therefrom, wherein the canopy is adapted to be positioned over an upper portion of a patent lying down on a movable bed or seated in a wheelchair. The patient privacy canopy preferably has a bottom that is substantially rectangular and sides that are arcuate. The frame further includes a transverse bar extending between the sides of the canopy at approximately an apex of the arcuate sides. In a preferred embodiment, the transverse bar is hinged. To accommodate a patient, the end opening is substantially semi-circular. So that the canopy can be packaged in a small, sealed plastic container, the frame is collapsible and the material covering the frame is foldable. The patient privacy canopy further includes means for securing the canopy to one of a gurney, hospital bed, and a wheelchair, such as an adhesive tab. Preferably, the material covering the frame is sterile and breathable. Also, the material may be coated with an antimicrobial to prevent bacteria from entering the canopy. Furthermore, the canopy includes at least one window to view the patient. The canopy may also include graphics on the interior, the exterior, or on both the interior and exterior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of the invention will be more fully appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numerals and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a patient privacy partition canopy in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the patient privacy partition canopy of FIG. 1 deployed on a gurney or hospital bed;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a patient privacy partition canopy in an open position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the patient privacy partition canopy of FIG. 3 deployed on a wheelchair.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a corner coupler which may be used to form a canopy shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a hinge used on the collapsible frame of a patient privacy partition canopy as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing patient privacy using the patient privacy canopy as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The patient privacy partition or canopy 10 as shown in FIGS. 1-2 is substantially a half cylindrical-shaped canopy cut in the vertical direction. The canopy may have a transparent window 12 just below the apex of the canopy. The canopy is preferably made of a breathable material that is opaque. The canopy is also preferably a single-use, disposable device for reasons of infection control. The canopy is preferably collapsible or foldable and easily deployed for use. In one preferred embodiment, the patient privacy canopy is adapted to be placed in a sterile, sealed package for distribution with as many as 144 units packages in a master pack having the dimensions of 36×24×12 inches. The canopy may include printed patterns, e.g., butterflies; hospital logos or printed graphics on the outside therof in order to camouflage the patient. Furthermore, the interior may also be provided with graphics, such as landscapes, animals or cartoons for the viewing pleasure of the patient being transported.

The canopy preferably includes on its anterior slope approximately 4 inches below the apex of the canopy, a transparent window 12 for patient observation. The window 12 may span across the canopy so hospital personnel and the transport team can observe the patient. The window 12 need only be approximately 3 inches in depth but span transversally across the façade of the canopy. The canopy may also include at least one side window 14 for the same viewing purpose. These observation windows 12, 14 can be made either larger or smaller. In a further embodiment, the windows may be eliminated to give the patient complete privacy. Many patients are transported to radiology and/or the operating room on a daily basis. Nurses and doctors and hospital transport staff may need to view the patient while in transport and windows may be desired.

The canopy is preferably constructed of a light-weight, sheer, opaque breathable material mounted on a frame support structure. By way of example only, the material may be a non-woven breathable fabric or may be the same material that used to make dust masks or surgeon's masks. The material may also be coated with an antimicrobial to prevent bacteria and allergens from passing therethrough. The frame 13 is preferably collapsible for purposes of packaging the device. The frame 13 may be made from a flexible yet semi-rigid plastic rod system, a spring steel system, wire or any other foldable means which can be collapsed for packaging and shipping and opened to provide a frame to support the canopy. The canopy preferably includes side rods 16 extending along a bottom surface on each side of the canopy. Additional upper side rods 18 extend from each end and are formed as a semi-circular shaped side profile to raise the canopy over the patient. A further rear bottom rod 19 also provides rigidity to the canopy structure. As shown in FIG. 5, the rods may be held in place by a coupler 24 having three ends angled relative to one another and adapted to receive the rods therein to form a corner of the canopy, similar to couplers used on e.g. kites. Preferably, the coupler 24 has two receivers 25 at right angles and a third receiver 27 substantially perpendicular to the other two to form a corner. Once placed in the coupler 24, the flexible rods may be bent to form the canopy frame. The canopy may include a sleeve to receive each of the rods and the coupler 24 may be a separate piece provided in the package. Alternatively, the coupler may be affixed to the corners of the canopy during manufacture and the rods inserted upon opening the package to form the canopy structure.

To assist in keeping the canopy open during use, a transverse bar 20 may be provided at approximately the apex of the canopy. The transverse bar 20 preferably includes a hinge 22, such as a bullet hinge, at approximately the center point. This hinge 22 allows the bar 20 to be folded so that the canopy may be placed into a small package for shipping and distribution. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that any hinge may be used.

Alternatively, the canopy may be made using a memory spring steel frame. A memory spring steel frame, when twisted, folds up into a smaller profile for packaging purposes. When opened, the memory spring steel “pops” into an open position and is ready for use. This type of memory spring steel is well known to those skilled in the art and is commonly used for pop-up children's houses, tents and the like. For example, a structure similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,044 entitled, Collapsible Tent Structure, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, may be used to support the patient privacy canopy of the present invention. The canopy 10 is preferably packaged and distributed in a sterile, sealed plastic bag. The packaged canopy will be relatively small so that a large number of units may be shipped in master packs and loaded onto pallets for bulk shipment and transport. The canopy is easy to construct into its open position for use with a patient. Thus, the canopy is low cost and disposable as well as adapted to be efficiently distributed to hospital and/or medical care facilities.

The canopy 10 may be provided with a means for securing the canopy to the gurney 30 or wheelchair 40 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The securing means may be, e.g., an adhesive tape 26, a strap having a fastener or any other means suitable to secure the canopy to a surface. Preferably, the adhesive tape or tab 26 is provided at each of the four corners of the canopy. Alternatively, the adhesive tabs may be placed anywhere along a bottom of the canopy structure to secure the canopy to the gurney or wheelchair.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the canopy includes an opening 28 at one end of sufficient size to allow the canopy to be placed over the body of a patient in either a lying down or sitting up position. Preferably, the opening 28 is a semi-circular opening having a height sufficient to allow the patient to comfortably fit underneath the canopy on a gurney 30 as shown in FIG. 2 or on a wheelchair 40 as shown in FIG. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the canopy 10 of the present invention may also be adapted to fit over a patent seated in a wheelchair 40. While the shape of the canopy for a wheelchair is slightly different from that for a gurney, the concept and structure are substantially the same. The side walls are preferably more elliptical in shape to elongate the canopy to fit over a seated patient. Furthermore, the canopy 28 opening is adapted to fit over a patient's legs rather than their chest. The canopy for use with a wheelchair as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 provides the ambulatory patient with much needed privacy.

The present invention also provides a method of providing patient privacy while lying on a bed or gurney, or while sitting in a chair or wheelchair. The method as shown in FIG. 7 includes the steps of providing a sealed package including a collapsed patient privacy canopy; removing the collapsed patient privacy canopy from the sealed package; constructing the patient privacy canopy to an open position wherein the patient privacy canopy includes a frame and an opaque material substantially covering the frame, the canopy including an open bottom and at least one end opening to allow a portion of a patient to extend therefrom; placing the opened patient privacy canopy over the patient to thereby cover at least the patient's head and a portion of their upper body; removing the opened patient privacy canopy when privacy is no longer desired; and disposing the used patient privacy canopy in the trash. Thus, the method discloses a disposable, single-use patient privacy canopy which is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to deploy and use.

While there have been described what are presently believed to be the preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art will realize that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A patient privacy canopy comprising: a frame; an opaque material substantially covering the frame to form a canopy, the canopy including an open bottom and at least one end opening to allow a portion of a patient to extend therefrom, wherein the canopy is adapted to be positioned over an upper portion of a patient.
 2. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 1, wherein the patient privacy canopy is adapted to be a single use, disposable canopy.
 3. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 1, wherein the bottom is substantially rectangular to surround the patient and the sides are arcuate to provide space between the patient's head and canopy.
 4. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 2, wherein the frame further includes a transverse bar extending between the sides of the canopy at approximately an apex of the arcuate sides to provide further support for the canopy.
 5. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 3, wherein the transverse bar is hinged.
 6. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 1, wherein the end opening is substantially semi-circular.
 7. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 1, wherein the frame is collapsible and adapted to be shipped for distribution in the collapsed state within a sterile package.
 8. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 7, wherein the frame is made of spring steel which pops into an open position when removed from the sterile package.
 9. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 1, further including means for securing the canopy to one of a gurney, hospital bed, and a wheelchair.
 10. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 1, wherein the material covering the frame is sterile and breathable.
 11. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 1, wherein the canopy includes at least one translucent window to view the patient.
 12. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 1, wherein the canopy includes graphics on the interior, the exterior, or on both the interior and exterior.
 13. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 1, wherein the material covering the frame includes an antimicrobial.
 14. A method of providing patient privacy while lying on a bed or gurney, or while sitting in a chair or wheelchair, comprising: providing a sealed package including a collapsed patient privacy canopy; removing the collapsed patient privacy canopy from the sealed package; constructing the patient privacy canopy to an open position wherein the patient privacy canopy includes a frame and an opaque material substantially covering the frame, the canopy including an open bottom and at least one end opening to allow a portion of a patient to extend therefrom; placing the opened patient privacy canopy over the patient to thereby cover at least the patient's head and a portion of their upper body; removing the opened patient privacy canopy when privacy is no longer desired; and disposing the used patient privacy canopy in the trash.
 15. The method of providing patient privacy as defined in claim 14, further including the step of securing the canopy to one of a gurney, hospital bed, and a wheelchair following the placing step.
 16. The method of providing patient privacy as defined in claim 14, wherein the frame is made of spring steel and the constructing step includes allowing the canopy to spring into the open position upon removal from the package.
 17. A disposable, single use patient privacy canopy comprising: a collapsible frame adapted to be in a collapsed shipping position for placing in a sealed package and an open deployed position; an opaque material substantially covering the collapsible frame to form a canopy, the canopy in the open deployed position including an open bottom and at least one open end portion to allow a portion of a patient to extend therefrom.
 18. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 17, wherein the bottom is substantially rectangular to surround the patient and the sides are arcuate to provide space between the patient's head and canopy.
 19. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 17, wherein the frame is made of spring steel which pops into an open position when removed from the sealed package.
 20. A patient privacy canopy as defined in claim 17, wherein the canopy includes graphics on the interior, the exterior, or on both the interior and exterior. 